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OPINION

Letters and feedback: Nov. 29, 2018

Florida Today
Published 10:39 p.m. ET Nov. 28, 2018

GM's Lordstown Complex, in Ohio, manufactures the compact Chevrolet Cruze sedan. It's one of five North American factories set to be idled next year, GM said on Monday.(Photo: General Motors)

I am a resident of Maine and spend the winter in Florida. I write in response to a letter to the editor questioning the dog racing ban and the lack of insight as to future cost of rehabbing these animals for life now that they can no longer race.

First, I support the ban. Dog racing is an unnecessary abuse of these animals. They are used and treated as tools solely for the pleasures of gambling. As for the dogs themselves, once their usefulness is over, these tools are simply discarded. Dog racing is now legal in only four states and hopefully the future will see an end to this so-called sport for good.

As for the dogs themselves, what has been the fate of these animals in the past? I can tell you that Greyhound Rescue in Maine has been footing the bill, working to find and train adoptive homes for this special breed for over 20 years. These are very maladjusted animals with respect to living in a home and social setting and require special attention and circumstances to be cared for successfully.

Yes, it will difficult and expensive to work with these animals once dog racing is banned, but don't kid yourselves: It has been all along. The tracks should have been financing this cost, but instead, it has been the goodwill of others who have had to pay the price for the refuse of their so-called sport. At least with the end of racing, one source of the constant outflow of discarded greyhounds will also end.

George D. Christie, Port St. John

Demos keep pushing bad platform

Democrats should not be surprised at midterm election results. They ran on their same old platform: single-payer health care, “free” college education for all, a guaranteed $15 minimum wage, open borders, limited access to charter schools, and taxing the rich.

Fortunately there are enough of the electorate smart enough to understand the fallacy of this platform.

A few points:

First, there are definitely serious problems with our health care, both economic and access. But these should be approached in an incremental fashion, finding what works and what doesn’t.

Second, there is no such thing as a free college education. It has to be paid. A significant number of students are not suited for a college education, either as a result of poor primary education, ambitions or other societal influences. Many would profit from post-high school training in trades, service jobs, etc.

Open borders and the elimination of control of immigration procedures: absolutely ridiculous. No nation can survive with a policy like this. We want and need legal immigrants with skills that enhance our nation.

And last, the old bromide of “tax the rich." Sounds great. But it’s nonsense because the rich have the knowledge and resources to avoid most of these proposed taxes. Besides, even if the taxes were collectible they would not come close to paying for the “free” Democratic proposals or the national debt both parties have passed on to future generations.

I will be the first to admit that President Trump has many, many flaws, but no president in my memory has accomplished so many positive things for America in so short a time.

Dr. Eli E. White, Melbourne

Missing former White House occupants

How I long for and sorely miss the positive presence of Michelle and Barack Obama. This man in the Oval Office continues to spread hatred, divisiveness, destruction — in public education, public lands and parks.

His only interest in this position is making money for himself and his rich friends, caring absolutely nothing for average Americans from whom he drains every resource possible. Very little to be thankful for. Bleak. 2020 is coming.

Kevan Vance, Melbourne

POTUS wrong on GM's actions

Not to embrace the future and progress is self-defeating, but when the president does it, it is dangerous.

To get angry at GM for reorganizing so that in the future more electric cars will be designed for zero emissions is self-defeating. Few want to go back to rotary dial telephones, wind-up watches or heating in the oven over microwaves. How about computers – most of us are dependent on our cells and computers, so it is an easy crossover to electric cars.

Trump is on the wrong side of progress on this. Continue those $7,000 incentives to further the sale of electric cars and get emissions down. Let’s focus on what GM is trying to accomplish with the reorganization. There is no rollback on progress. Let’s all applaud progress and move toward a healthy and competitive future.